Terrorists Kill, Wound Scores of Iraqi Civilians

(AFPS) Scores of Iraqis have been killed or injured in terrorist attacks in the Baghdad area over the last few days, military officials reported.

Sunday night, three blasts reportedly exploded in various parts of the Sadr City neighborhood, killing 52 residents and wounding 78, according to Iraqi police reports.

More than 10 military ambulances responded, along with Iraqi soldiers who assisted in assessing the situation, securing the area and transporting the wounded to medical treatment facilities. The soldiers also helped provide traffic control around the stricken area.

"Iraqi security forces showed great compassion responding to this emergency in their own city," said Col. Thomas Vail, commander, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, whose brigade trains and conducts operations with the Iraqi division in eastern Baghdad. "It is significant the Iraqi police and Iraqi army worked very well together."

Terrorists killed at least 35 and wounded 92 Iraqi civilians when a series of bombs detonated in central Baghdad, officials said. Elements of the Iraqi security forces rushed to the scenes to provide security while coalition forces manned security checkpoints outside the area.

"This is another example of an indiscriminate terrorist-like attack that harms the innocent people of Iraq," said Brig. Gen. David Halverson, assistant division commander for support, Multinational Division Baghdad. "This attack is an attempt to disrupt the stability of the Iraqi government and escalate the violence in this country."

Six more Iraqi civilians were killed and 13 others were wounded yesterday when a mortar hit in central Baghdad near the Yarmouk neighborhood at about 10:30 a.m.

Soldiers from the 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, and Multinational Division Baghdad’s 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, responded to the scene. The wounded were transported to a local hospital.

(Source: MFI)